BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's soccer team will open the 2012 season this weekend on the road facing non-conference opponents Oregon State and Oregon. The Blazers have eight non-conference matches scheduled this season and will play six of those contests away from West Campus Field.

UAB will meet the Oregon State Beavers on Friday, at 9 p.m. CT at Paul Lorenz Field in Corvallis before traveling to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, at 3 p.m. CT at Pape' Field.

Last weekend, the Blazers traveled to Jonesboro, Ark. for an exhibition match against Arkansas State. UAB lost in a 2-1 decision to the Red Wolves.

"Practice has gone really well this week," head coach Harold Warren said. "After the loss we regrouped and started working on some things we struggled with. Oregon and Oregon State will be tough matches, but we're prepared and looking forward to it."

2012 BLAZERSThe UAB women's soccer squad returns 11 members from the 2011 squad, five starters. Led by the eight upperclassmen, including lone senior Emma Jane Smith, the Blazers look to improve upon last season's overall record of 6-12-1.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS A member of the Pac-12 Conference, Oregon State comes into the 2012 season after finishing 13-5-3 overall and 7-3-1 in conference play in 2011 and the Beavers made their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament last fall. The Beavers return five starters and 15 letterwinners from last year's squad and have added nine new members. Friday's match will be the second time UAB has faced Oregon State, with the Beavers taking a 1-0 advantage after the squads' first meeting in Corvallis in 2006. The Beavers won that match 1-0.

SCOUTING THE DUCKS Also from the Pac-12, Oregon finished the 2011 season with an 8-9-3 overall record, and finished 3-6-2 in conference play. The Ducks return 10 starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's squad, and have added nine newcomers. Sunday's match will mark the first time the Blazers and Ducks have faced each other, and will also mark the first-ever match played in the new Pape' facility.

UP NEXT FOR UAB After this weekend's trip to Oregon, the Blazers will return to West Campus Field to host their only two home non-conference matches of the season against Alabama and Oklahoma State on Sunday, Aug. 26 and Friday, Aug. 31, respectively.

The match between the Blazers and Crimson Tide is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT while the match against the Cowgirls is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

UAB will face its final four non-conference opponents on the road at Samford, Ole Miss, Stetson University, and Florida Atlantic University.